By Invitation: Professor B A Marples, Mr W P J Maunder, Dr R B Wilcockson, Mr P Wheeler, Mr J White and Mr C Rhodes (for items 5-9)
Apologies: Dr P D Dine and Dr P Willmot
In Attendance: Mr J S Wilcox, Mr R A Bowyer
The Sub-Committee received an explanatory note summarising the LUSAD programmes to be offered from October 1998. LCAD staff explained that the proposals were intended to re configure programmes which presently ran within a duodecimal framework which had been validated. The proposals had been evolved by the staff delivering the teaching: they had full confidence that the proposals would deliver the programmes they wished to teach and would meet with approval in the 1999/2000 quality audit. The proposals had been developed with the benefit of advice from independent academic consultants.
The Sub-Committee received the proposed programme regulations for Painting, intended to apply to students who were presently registered in LCAD. It was noted that the proposals were a fair reflection of what was intended to be done with all existing programmes and students from September 1998. As part of the transitional arrangements covering the merger of LCAD and the University, the regulations would permit modules with weights being multiples of 12. Further, students would have their degrees classified only by final year assessment performance. It was NOTED that any student who could not pass the Part B assessment by the end of September 1999 would be required to be reassessed in accordance with the revised Part B regulations which would be introduced at that time. Part-time students would transfer to the new programme regulations at an appropriate point in their studies. It was AGREED that the rubrics for the programme regulations should make it clear that all assessment processes would be in accordance with GRUA and ARUA and should also indicate the student cohorts to be covered by the regulations; the secretary would provide a model form of words for this. It was decided that the wording of the regulations should be amended so that modules were only described as compulsory when there was no element of choice for students. The Sub-Committee had no serious reservations with the model provided to it and looked forward to receiving all of the proposed regulations at its next meeting; these would incorporate the points raised during discussion.
The Sub-Committee considered proposals for the LUSAD programme regulations that would apply from September 1998 to the new intake of students. A number of detailed suggestions were made during discussion. It would be helpful to avoid any doubt by stating that students would register for precisely 60 modular weights per semester. Some module titles had not been finalised: an important consideration was how a student's transcript would appear and undue length in a title should be avoided. Modules should be described as optional only when no choice was available to students. It would be helpful to find a clearer way to present some of the constrained optional choices. There was no need to include headings for module types which did not actually exist in a particular part of a programme. It was NOTED that an intentional decision had been made to require candidates to obtain 120 credits in each Part in order to progress. It was NOTED that the range of optional modules was reasonable, given the number of students likely to choose each one. It was NOTED that students from other departments would be able to elect some of these modules in due course, subject to the usual practical timetabling constraints.
The Sub-Committee had no serious reservations with the proposals and looked forward to receiving revisions at its next meeting; these would incorporate the points raised during discussion.
The Sub-Committee received a representative sample of module specifications, these modules to be taught in conjunction with the new programme regulations. Some general comments were made. Insofar as possible a uniform style for all specifications should be used. The aims of each module should be broad and overarching - a few lines would usually suffice. The section describing method of teaching, learning and assessment should indicate the contact hours and, if possible, should indicate the hours of work expected from students, broken down according to mode of study. The same section must provide detailed information about the assessment process. The Associate Dean (Teaching) would receive revised and outstanding module specifications.
The Sub-Committee received the Secretary's proposals for the detailed procedures to be applied when giving approval to module specifications for 1998/99. It was AGREED that, as in previous years, the Associate Deans (Teaching) should act on behalf of the Sub-Committee in routine cases and the Chair should act on behalf of the Sub-Committee whenever further consultation was required. The Sub-Committee noted that the revised pro-forma incorporated a number of decisions which had been introduced by Teaching and Learning during the last year. Some minor modifications to the draft pro-forma were agreed and the proposals were AGREED.
The Sub-Committee received the Secretary's outline proposals for procedures to approve continuing programme regulations for 1998/99. It was AGREED that undergraduate programmes should be dealt with as in previous years and that the Secretary would circulate a suitable pro-forma as soon as possible.
The Sub-Committee NOTED the proposals to deal with the process of converting postgraduate programmes to the 180 tariff with effect from September 1998. Whilst it was content with the proposals, it noted the urgent need to provide advice to departments regarding the conversion process which would have to be applied to students who were part way through their studies when the tariff changed. Some outline proposals were discussed and it was AGREED to recommend these to the Steering Group of Teaching and Learning. The important features would be that students must not lose any credit, that any rounding required should be kept to a minimum and be to the benefit of students, and that students should not be required to duplicate module content or to omit content that was central to their programme of study. Where necessary departments might have to construct modules in order to meet these objectives.
Subject to some minor amendments the proposals for the process of approving revised postgraduate programmes were APPROVED.
The Sub-Committee received the Chair's proposals for modifications to the standard pro-forma, designed to structure programme aims and objectives so that they would be consistent with national moves towards the development of programme specifications. These proposals were APPROVED and the Secretary was requested to bring forward a detailed design for the pro-forma.
Author - Mr J S Wilcox
Date - March 1998
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